Norfolk community shop urge chancellor to cut fuel prices and invest in public transport
The Coastal Health and Wellbeing Community Supermarket sell food and essentials at reduced prices, in Wells-next-to-the-sea
A community supermarket in North Norfolk is calling on the Chancellor to cut the price of fuel in rural coastal areas, during the Autumn budget.
It comes these costs remain at record high-levels across the north and west of the county- with 40% of those living there now thought to be in 'fuel poverty'.
"A lot of us have to rely on cars"
Simon Prince works at the venue in Wells-on-Sea, that sells food and essentials at reduced prices.
"A lot of us have to rely on cars to get to work, to do our shopping, to get our kids to school. There are a lot of people round here who need diesel for their vans to work- so I think fuel is a big issue in the rural areas".
"We have had a lady come in today to use the shop who has told us that she has not had her heating on yet. So, she is choosing heating over eating. But we know that it's also going the other way, so people are choosing heating over going out and doing things- so they are the most socially isolated in our community".
"Rural coastal communities need a lot more put into them"
He says they also need better local transport links, locally:
"You can't get a bus to us. It takes two hours to get from one village to the next on two different bus routes. Rural coastal communities need a lot more put into them. It's definitely that working group of people that will be hit by this after Christmas, because we all want a lovely Christmas".
Helen Roythorne manages the scheme:
"There's a lot of small hotels, restaurants and shops and with no energy price cap for them we are starting to hear stories of cutbacks on staff and things like that. So, more support for businesses would be great so that they can continue to employ staff, so local people can continue to earn".
What has the Government said?
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says tackling the rising cost of living is his government's number one priority.